Police step up patrols at Ringwood’s notorious nightclub strip

POLICE will step up patrols at Ringwood’s infamous nightclub strip following three vicious assaults at one venue in less than six months.

Orange Whip Nightclub in Ringwood. Picture: Lawrence Pinder

RINGWOOD’S notorious nightclub strip has been branded a “high-risk” area, with police planning to step up patrols in the lead up to Christmas.

Acting Senior Sergeant Adrian Berardi said there would be extra cops on the beat along the Maroondah Highway strip and at other licensed venues throughout the city over the next month.

There have been three vicious assaults linked to one venue, Orange Whip, in less than six months including an attack on a bouncer who was knocked out after trying to break up a fight in a laneway near the venue.

Another man was taken to hospital after he was punched on the dancefloor in an unprovoked attack.

Four people were also arrested in the area for drug possession and given warnings during a one-night crackdown on the Queen’s Birthday long weekend in June.

Acting Sen-Sgt Adrian Berardi said the strip was classed as “a high-risk community location” and officers regularly patrolled from Thursday to Saturday nights.

He said police also met with Maroondah pub and club owners each month to discuss issues.

Acting Sen-Sgt Berardi said he did not believe a further crackdown was needed.

“Obviously we are concerned about any types of assaults, but from the figures we’ve got, we are not seeing a problem with that area,” he said.

“If issues do arise, we do respond to them with targeted operations.”

Acting Sen-Sgt Berardi said as venues got busy in the festive season police would focus on “maintaining public order”.

“With Christmas coming up and a lot of work breakups and celebrations, we do start to roster units for walk-throughs of local clubs,” he said.

Sen-Sgt Berardi said most assaults reported in Maroondah in the past six months occurred at homes. Orange Whip managing director Gretch Suratman said his venue “does not condone or tolerate violent behaviour in any way, shape or form.”

He said the venue had an “advanced computer identification system” to identify past troublemakers and was committed to the safety of patrons.

Mr Suratman said the club was working with police and Maroondah Council to make it easier to identify “violence-prone people” and ban them from licensed premises in Maroondah.